How to pack fragile items so they survive the truck

Why fragile items break

Almost nothing breaks because the truck hit a bump. Things break because they could move inside the box: unwrapped glasses knocking together, a half-filled box crushing under a heavier one, or a single layer of paper standing between a plate and the box wall. Good packing removes movement and adds cushioning on every side.

The materials that matter

You need sturdy double-walled boxes in small and medium sizes — never pack heavy fragile items in large boxes. Butcher paper or packing paper for wrapping, bubble wrap or air pillows for cushioning, cardboard dividers for glasses and stemware, and strong tape. Towels and linen work as free cushioning between layers.

The wrapping method

Wrap each piece individually. Lay a glass diagonally on two sheets of paper, fold the corners in, roll it, and tuck the ends. Plates stand on edge, never flat — a plate on edge can flex under load, while a flat plate cracks. Stand wrapped plates vertically in the box with dividers or paper between each one, like records on a shelf.

Cushion the box first: a 5cm layer of crushed paper or air pillows on the bottom. Pack the heaviest items at the base, fill every gap so nothing shifts when you shake the box gently, then cushion the top before sealing. If it rattles, open it and add more fill.

Box discipline

Keep fragile boxes small and light — if you cannot lift it comfortably, repack it. Mark every fragile box on two sides with its room and a brief contents note, and stack them so they load on top of the truck, never underneath whiteware. Tell your movers which boxes are fragile as they come down the ramp; a quick “these three are glass, on top please” prevents most accidents.

Electronics deserve the same discipline: remove toner and ink cartridges, back up computers before the move, wrap screens in blankets with nothing stacked on them, and bag remotes, cables and fittings with the device they belong to.

When to hand it over

A full kitchen of glassware and ceramics can take a full day to pack properly. If time is short or the items are valuable, professional packing pays for itself in unbroken things — see our packing services page for what that covers, or call us to combine packing with house removals or furniture moving in one booking.

Special cases: art, mirrors and lampshades

Flat glass, mirrors and framed art travel upright, never flat, with corners protected and an X of masking tape across the glass to hold shards if the worst happens. Telescoping picture boxes or two cardboard sheets taped around the frame work well. Lampshades go one per box with generous fill and nothing stacked on top — they crush if you look at them wrong. Lamp bases travel with the harp and finial removed and bagged.

Books are the opposite problem: dense and heavy. Pack them flat or spine-down in small boxes, never in large ones, and fill gaps with paper so rows cannot topple. A box of books should stay liftable with one hand. Mix in lighter items on top if the box has room, and keep book boxes at the bottom of the truck stack where their weight stabilises the load.

Need a hand with the move itself?

Arthur Paine Removals shifts homes, furniture and small offices across Halswell and Christchurch, open Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Call +64 3 322 8361 to talk through your move, or browse our moving services and contact details and map.